Ben Simmons ruled ineligible to receive US college basketball’s top award

HE might be the best player currently in the college basketball system, but Ben Simmons will miss out on the league’s highest honour.

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - FEBRUARY 23: Ben Simmons #25 of the LSU Tigers looks over at the camera during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on February 23, 2016 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 85-65, (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

BEN Simmons has reportedly been ruled ineligible to receive US college basketball’s top award because of academic-related reasons at Louisiana State University.

The Australian banked big numbers again on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) with 17 points and 11 rebounds as LSU were thrashed by Kentucky 94-77.

For Simmons — widely expected to be the top 2016 NBA draft pick — it was his 22nd double-double of a standout season.

However, ESPN reported that the 19-year-old Melbourne-born Simmons won’t be in the running to win the Wooden Award, given annually to the best college basketball player.

Freshman Simmons was benched for the start of LSU’s clash with Tennessee in February for an academic issue.

Simmons is head and shoulders above the rest of the college competition.

The Wooden Award nominees must have a cumulative 2.00 grade point average since enrolling in their current university.

Simmons was on the Wooden list on February 10 that included 20 players.

“From what I was told, he didn’t meet all of the requirements,” Tigers coach Johnny Jones told ESPN.

“He wasn’t certified by the school to be on the ballot.” Asked about the reports after LSU’s loss to Kentucky, Simmons said: “I don’t know. I’m not too sure, but I believe I’m still the best player so as long as I believe it, it doesn’t really matter.” Carmelo Anthony was in a similar situation to Simmons, with the New York Knicks star only earning a 1.8 GPA in his first semester at Syracuse making him ineligible for the Wooden Award.